NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A 76-year-old woman handed over $30,000 to a fraudster who came to her front door in New Jersey on Monday after falling for a fake Microsoft email, according to police.
The woman, a resident of Maples Avenue, Nutley, reported the incident to the Nutley Police Department.
According to the report, the victim responded to a Microsoft email advising her to contact technical support. She called the number and a fake agent who answered provided her with a secure number where TD Bank documentation showed her accounts had been jeopardized.
She then went to several banks to collect $30,000 and later handed all the money to an unknown person who came to her front door Monday evening, police said.
Chief Thomas Strumolo, in a press release on Facebook, stated that the mistake was “calling the number attached to the email.”
The fraudster, who called her later, tied to get an additional $15,000 from her on Tuesday.
Police arrested Huihua Chen, 49, of Flushing, Queens, who they believe was connected to the fraud.
Police Director Alphonse Petracco stated that in this scam, usually, the person communicating with the victim is different from the one picking up the cash.
“Scams come in many ways, e-mail, phone, and social media sites,” Petracco said. “Unfortunately, they all have one goal and that is to take your money.”
An investigation is ongoing.
“We urge our residents to continue their vigilance and never provide personal information or money to someone without first speaking with family members or police,” Petracco and Strumolo’s statement read.
Anyone that may have noticed suspicious activity on Mapes Avenue on Monday or Tuesday are asked to contact police 973-284-4940.